Subliminal Messages & Philosophy Growing up we have all watched the famous Disney movies and enjoyed them as little kids. Have you ever payed close attention to some of the messages that are actually in them? There are hidden messages within many of the Disney movies we let little kids watch.
Here is a basic understanding of what subliminal messaging is: The word subliminal literally means “below threshold”. To elaborate on this it means that you are not aware of the message – it is below the threshold of your cocnscious perception. However you will still take the message in on some level as your subconscious mind processes it and stores this information still. Subliminal messaging therefore refers to the action of sending a suggestion directly into the subconscious mind.
Disney is notorious for using subliminal messages across its short animations, TV series and movies. In fact it’s a tradition of studio and they use both subliminal and consciously visable subtle suggestions. It has got to the point that when a new Disney film comes out, subliminal message hunters compete to find the messages in these movies and post them on youtube and various blogs around the internet.Here are some of our Favorite Disney Movies: The Little Mermaid At the start of the movie when King Triton swoops down over the people, you can see Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy among the crowd. There is also some suggestion that in the scene where Eric and Ursula are about to get married, the priest has an erection. However, there is equally as much suggestion that in fact what can be seen is merely his knee (this too has been edited out for modern DVD release):
little-mermaid-priest-subliminal-messages
On the subject of Disney hidden messages and hidden erotica in Disney movies, we should mention the cover art for The Little Mermaid. Many people have commented that the tower looks rather phallic! The artist apparently fully intended for the tower to look like a penis, although when he had finished the cover, he realesed that it was actually a bit too obvious. The artwork was sent for approval with the assumption that some changes would be required, but no such request was ever made and so the cover was released with a not-very-hidden phallus on it:
little-mermaid-subliminal-messages
little-mermaid-subliminal-poster
The Lion King
In the scene where Simba remembers his father on a cliff top the word “SEX” is formed in the clouds above his head:
lion-king-subliminal-message
This is only the tip of the iceberg though in the Lion king subliminal saga – there are countless examples, hidden in the background, the animation, the word sex appears in nearly every scene – all subliminally of course – but to the trained eye they can be found. The Rescuers
Features two frames of an actual topless model. They are in the scene when Bernard and Bianca fly through the city – you can briefly see her in a window in the background if you freeze the frame:
disney-subliminal-the-rescuers
So why use subliminal messages or hidden messages in Disney films? Low and behold "sex sells". By using "hidden" messages in their movies, Disney is portraying to society the notion that sex sells. According to Studio History at Disney.com, Disney has been up and running strong for over 75 years, and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon (Studio History, 1998). Therefore, with the help of Disney Movie Productions, sex sells at an even more disturbing rate. Throughout the remainder of the paper we are going to discuss the numerous ways in which sex is directly related to Disney, and what can be said about the future of Disney Movies.
Disney continues to corrupt the youth of children and influence the minds of teenagers by releasing questionable movies onto the sales racks, one after the other. Just to name a few movies that have been released with sexual innuendos or comments are; Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and The Rescuers. Numerous accusations and attestable information about all of these movies have been mentioned in the news, in magazines, and on the Internet. By reviewing these sources we found the credibility of each allegation that proves to be true. Next time you are watching any Disney movies pay attention and see if you can pick out any of the "hidden messages" that are being used. You have to have a good eye for it...let's see if you can do it! Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73fCLx-mFLg Works Citedhttp://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/faculty/ha/tcom103fall2003/gp13/gp13.pdfhttp://www.subliminal-messaging.com/disney-subliminal-messages/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73fCLx-mFLg
Jennifer Smith
Subliminal Messages & Philosophy Growing up we have all watched the famous Disney movies and enjoyed them as little kids. Have you ever payed close attention to some of the messages that are actually in them? There are hidden messages within many of the Disney movies we let little kids watch.
Here is a basic understanding of what subliminal messaging is:The word subliminal literally means “below threshold”. To elaborate on this it means that you are not aware of the message – it is below the threshold of your cocnscious perception. However you will still take the message in on some level as your subconscious mind processes it and stores this information still. Subliminal messaging therefore refers to the action of sending a suggestion directly into the subconscious mind.
Disney is notorious for using subliminal messages across its short animations, TV series and movies. In fact it’s a tradition of studio and they use both subliminal and consciously visable subtle suggestions. It has got to the point that when a new Disney film comes out, subliminal message hunters compete to find the messages in these movies and post them on youtube and various blogs around the internet.Here are some of our Favorite Disney Movies:
The Little Mermaid
At the start of the movie when King Triton swoops down over the people, you can see Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy among the crowd. There is also some suggestion that in the scene where Eric and Ursula are about to get married, the priest has an erection. However, there is equally as much suggestion that in fact what can be seen is merely his knee (this too has been edited out for modern DVD release):
On the subject of Disney hidden messages and hidden erotica in Disney movies, we should mention the cover art for The Little Mermaid. Many people have commented that the tower looks rather phallic! The artist apparently fully intended for the tower to look like a penis, although when he had finished the cover, he realesed that it was actually a bit too obvious. The artwork was sent for approval with the assumption that some changes would be required, but no such request was ever made and so the cover was released with a not-very-hidden phallus on it:
The Lion King
In the scene where Simba remembers his father on a cliff top the word “SEX” is formed in the clouds above his head:
This is only the tip of the iceberg though in the Lion king subliminal saga – there are countless examples, hidden in the background, the animation, the word sex appears in nearly every scene – all subliminally of course – but to the trained eye they can be found.
The Rescuers
Features two frames of an actual topless model. They are in the scene when Bernard and Bianca fly through the city – you can briefly see her in a window in the background if you freeze the frame:
So why use subliminal messages or hidden messages in Disney films?
Low and behold "sex sells". By using "hidden" messages in their movies, Disney is portraying to society the notion that sex sells. According to Studio History at Disney.com, Disney has been up and running strong for over 75 years, and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon (Studio History, 1998). Therefore, with the help of Disney Movie Productions, sex sells at an even more disturbing rate. Throughout the remainder of the paper we are going to discuss the numerous ways in which sex is directly related to Disney, and what can be said about the future of Disney Movies.
Disney continues to corrupt the youth of children and influence the minds of teenagers by releasing questionable movies onto the sales racks, one after the other. Just to name a few movies that have been released with sexual innuendos or comments are; Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and The Rescuers. Numerous accusations and attestable information about all of these movies have been mentioned in the news, in magazines, and on the Internet. By reviewing these sources we found the credibility of each allegation that proves to be true.
Next time you are watching any Disney movies pay attention and see if you can pick out any of the "hidden messages" that are being used. You have to have a good eye for it...let's see if you can do it!
Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73fCLx-mFLg
Works Citedhttp://www.bgsu.edu/departments/tcom/faculty/ha/tcom103fall2003/gp13/gp13.pdfhttp://www.subliminal-messaging.com/disney-subliminal-messages/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73fCLx-mFLg